If the sum of the legs of a right triangle (not including the hypotenuse) is 49 inches and the hypotenuse is 41 inches, find the area of the triangle.

Question

amoodarya · Answer

name them as a,b,c
a= hypotenuse 
so  
b+c=49
a=41
and 
$$a^2=b^2+c^2$$
now you have to solve the system of equation

anonymous · Answer

You need to find out what x and y are and then multiply them together, and then divide the answer by 2.  This is because the area of a right triangle is (1/2)(base*height). The hypotenuse is 41. That is h. The sum of the legs is x + y = 49.     x^2 + y^2 = h^2

amoodarya · Answer

b+c=49  so find (b+c)^2=b^2+c^2 +2bc
so 
2bc +a^2=(c+b)^2
2bc +41^2=49^2
and you need to find area=1/2 bc

anonymous · Answer

Ohhh.  I was squaring the wrong thing.